Robot wars

The problem with our type of cleverness is, of course, that it so often translates into ever more ingenious ways of killing other humans (Swarms of robots join the army, August 21). As it stands, we can only hope that when our robots truly become intelligent, they will not also inherit our innate and very human viciousness.gal.darkervision.com

"In just over five years, the swarms of robots in the British armed forces will outnumber the soldiers." Oh great...ruleset.org

The MoD must be very, very pleased. Its Grand Challenge, which I've blogged about previously, has won tremendous coverage (robots, urban warfare, Salisbury Plain - you remember). This piece in today's Technology section of the Guardian is very good. Not least because it doesn't go for the obvious let's-talk-to-the-winners angle.takingoutthetrash.typepad.co.uk

These military advances are increasingly necessary because Western audiences cannot stomach human losses in war anymore. But more importantly, miniscule, expendable insect-like robots can track down terrorists in urban settings without putting soldiers in harm's way and reducing collateral damage to civilians.

The fear becomes whether an enemy can infiltrate your control system or if the robots become so autonomous that they are out of your control. In 10-20 years, military forces will be completely transformed. This is just the beginning.gottliebreport.blogspot.com

In defence of OS

We are more than happy that the Guardian has shown this interest in the way that Ordnance Survey communicates about the important work that we do (Ordnance Survey hires PR company to lobby politicians, August 21).

It is because Ordnance Survey data is so vital that parliamentarians and other important stakeholders expect us to communicate with them about our work. That is why we engage with politicians from all parties who care about the services that we provide. We have a duty to inform them on our role collecting the data needed to map every feature on the landscape, and how we intend to maintain the quality of this sophisticated data going forward.

We're committed to the best possible communications with all our stakeholders, now and in the future.Nicole Perry, head of public affairs, Ordnance Survey

I'm not at all surprised to learn that OS is paying political lobbyists, but it does feel completely underhand. These people are supposed to be professional civil servants, for Christ's sake. They're supposed to be impartial; their input into government is supposed to go through the proper chain, through their department and their minister. Their input into the political process should not go through a bunch of hack lobbyists, paid for out of the public purse, simply because the management of OS are not up to the job of making a decent case with their minister. It's unconscionable.

I've long referred to the trading fund model as nothing more than legalised money laundering, and this does little to make me change my mind.sawyl.livejournal.com

Date your podcasts

Please could you include the date at the start of each [Tech Weekly] podcast? Sometimes I have several backed up on my MP3 and knowing their sequence would be very helpful [when I cannot get to read a display, eg when driving].

Enjoy the programme, keep up the good work, and thanks to all the team.Peter Williams, by email

Red face of 'oops'

Sorry for the pedantry, but the dreaded "red ring of death" [on the Xbox 360] only has 3 of the sectors lit. [Last time you wrote about it] you showed the "red ring of we didn't plug in an AV cable".Steve Cartwright, London